Facebook To Preserve Accounts of the Dead

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Facebook To Preserve Accounts of the Dead

Posted by samzenpus on Tuesday October 27, 2009 @03:26AM from the last-status-update dept.

Barence writes "Social-networking site Facebook is planning to preserve the accounts of dead members. The new 'memorialized' accounts will continue to display photos and wall posts, but remove 'sensitive information' such as status updates and contact information. Friends or family who want to report the death of a Facebook member are encouraged to fill out the site's Deceased form. The form asks for proof of death, such as an obituary or news article, although it's not clear how Facebook can validate the death of a member if neither of those pieces of information is published on the internet. How long before someone snuffs it on Facebook before their time?"

10 of 292 comments (clear)

Smart move! by timothy · 2009-10-27 03:28 · Score: 5, Funny

They're making a wise decision: status updates and contact information for dead people pretty much define "sensitive information."
DEADGUY: "Status: Bones yellowed, but still have some structure. Rat finally got away with St. Anthony medallion. Anyone gonna to go the open bar at Styx tonight?!"
timothy

--
jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
1. Re:Smart move! by Anonymous Coward · 2009-10-27 04:03 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I'd kind of like to see one from someone getting cremated:
  "Heh. Dad, I don't know how you knew about them, but I'm glad you didn't let Mom find those Henta- wait... why are you putting those in that box with the rest of your- ewww." 3 hours ago
  "Dad! Don't let mom look behind my GRR Martin books on the shelf! It won't end well!" 4 hours ago
  "Wait, what are you guys doing with those bags? Why are you going into the basement?!" 4 hours ago
  "Sweet, I'm on the mantle." 5 hours ago
  "Whew, THAT was odd. I didn't know cremation could be such an experience. Now I'm in a bottle. It better be one of those Star Trek urns like I told them" 8 hours ago
  "Whoah, OK, getting a little warm in here. I thought it was November!" 10 hours ago
  "OK, on the move finally. I wonder where they're putting me." 12 hours ago
  "Hai guyz! I'm in Ur Church, makin you cry lol! LRN2Grieve" 1 day ago
  "This is a pretty nice box I'm in. Very comfy! I wish they'd put me in my other suit, though. This one has a tag that always made my neck itch." 2 days ago
  "OK, I'm glad embalming is only done once. I'm drained!:-P" 2 days ago
  "Status: Dead. lol!" 3 days ago
2. Re:Smart move! by clone53421 · 2009-10-27 05:47 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Would it have been possible to copy them to an SD card and bury it in the backyard? That would have been an ... interesting ... way of dealing with the situation.
  
  --
  Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
For Slashdotters by Megaweapon · 2009-10-27 03:32 · Score: 5, Funny

Be sure and leave a comment on Stephen King's page. Truly an American icon.

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I'm sure "SlashdotMedia" will improve on all the wonders that Dice Holdings blessed us all with
1. Re:For Slashdotters by BadAnalogyGuy · 2009-10-27 03:49 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Meme? I heard it on the radio this morning.
Re:Status updates for a dead person? by noundi · 2009-10-27 03:36 · Score: 5, Funny

Removing that isn't so much privacy as logic. What would it say?
"Status: Dead"
"Status: Still Dead"
"Status: REAL Dead"
"Status: Excitedly Dead"
"Status: Dead Dead"
The Reaper likes this.

--
I am the lawn!
Re:as a nice touch.. by undertow3886 · 2009-10-27 03:38 · Score: 5, Funny

They should do that and also stamp DECEASED in red block letters diagonally across the picture, like you see on someone's file in the movies.

--
Sick of people knocking on Gentoo's greatness in completely unrelated .sigs? Me too!
Re:Status updates for a dead person? by zapakh · 2009-10-27 03:40 · Score: 5, Funny

Removing that isn't so much privacy as logic. What would it say?
"Status: Dead"
"Status: Still Dead"
"Status: REAL Dead"
"Status: Excitedly Dead"
"Status: Dead Dead"
Status: Zombie. Want BRAAAAAINS
Next Up: by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2009-10-27 03:41 · Score: 5, Funny

Myspace, in their desperate bid to stay relevant against Facebook, will introduce the "pour a 40" option, which is exactly the same; but much tackier.
Re:Status updates for a dead person? by corbettw · 2009-10-27 04:23 · Score: 5, Funny

Werewolves aren't undead. I'd replace them in your list with "middle management".

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God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.